Shape retainer



July 29, 1958 E. G. clczoGNA 2,845,289

SHAPE RETAINER F1ed May 15, 1954 INVENTOR Ernes' G', Czcohgna,

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SHAPE RETAINER `Ernest G. Cicogna, New York, N. Y. Application May 13, 1954, serial' No. 429,591 s claims.' (ci. 287-471) This invention relates to means for' retaining suitable covering material in the shape of a hat, sunshade and the like.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a retainer of the indicated character which may :be readily applied to the prepared covering material to form a hat, sunshade and the like, and which also may be easily removed therefrom so that both the covering material and the retainer may be easily collapsed to occupy a comparatively small space in luggage.

An object of the invention is the provision of a shape retainer applicable to material of head gear Without the use of extra fasteners of any kind.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a shape retainer of the character indicated whose size is easily adjustable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a shape retainer of the character described having all the described advantages which is nevertheless inexlpensive to manufacture and simple to construct.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top View of a collapsible hat, the covering material of which is kept in shape by a retainer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the retainer closed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the retainer unlatched and how the retainer may be collapsed; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a modication in the construction of the retainer.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, it will be seen that there is shown by way of example a sailor type of hat or sunshade circular in contour although the same may be of some other shape. Use is made of covering material 10, such as textile fabric or knitted or netted material. The material is sewn along the peripheral edge portion to provide a tunnel 11 which is divided as at 12 to provide an opening to accommodate and apply the retainer 13 of the present invention.

The retainer 13 consists of a single piece of lamentary material, preferably a suitable length of wire inherently springy so that the retainer is flexible and resilient. One end portion 14 of the wire is formed into a helix 15 and a crimp 16 adjacent the helix. The other end portion 17 of the wire extends through the helix 15 and terminates in a hook portion 18, which latter is engageable with the crimp 16 and disengageable therefrom. The helix k15 prevents lateral movement of the end portion 14 when the hook 18 is engaged with the crimp 16. Thus the retainer 13 is kept closed in the fully expanded condition. It is obvious that the helix 15 serves as a guide when it is desired to contract or collapse the retainer 13 by moving the end portions 14 and 17 relatively to each other as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that the wire will be extended in the tunnel 11 by virtue'of the opening 12 inthe niatiifl 10. This may be done by advancing the portion 11 in the tunnel from one end thereof until the hook portion 18`is exposed at the opening 12. The helix -15v and crimp 16' then occupy the space provided by'sid operi-'- ing 12. 'Ihe covering material 10 is then spread or dis'- tended, after which the hookl18 formed on s'aid end otion 17 and extending through the helix 15 is their erigaged with the crimp 16 to keep the hat formed bythe material 10 open, as shown in Fig. l. In this t'zor'irie'e`- tion it will be understood that the retainer is biased, due to its resiliency, to keep the hat openand the retainer closed in ring forming condition, or expanded.' To collapse the hat it is only necessary to grasp' the opposite sides ofthe retainer 13 urging the sides together, whereby the retainer will collapse into a gure-S position-With the entire hat collapsed for carrying or storage purposes. necessary to urge any two opposite sides of the retainer 13 away from each other, whereupon the retainer and hat will assume its original, wearable shape.

It isfto be noted that the circumference of the shape retainermay be adjusted as desired. For this purpose, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the end of the ring here inbefore dened as the hook portion 18, is provided immediately adjacent the hook portion with one or more U-shaped crimps 19 and 20, each of which is adapted to engage the crimp 16 and maintain the retainer in desired size. It will be understood that it is only necessary to engage the crimp 16 by the predetermined U-shaped portion 19 or 20 to provide for varying sizes determined by the wearer.

If desired a loop may be formed in continuation of two of the coils of the helix 15 to support means 21 for securing the retainer to the covering material 10. This modification is shown in Fig. 4. It is also to be understood that other alterations may be made in accordance with the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector means for joining together the ends of a hat wire, comprising an annular member constituting a coil having a substantially straight, elongate projecting end portion for attachment to the hat wire, and having a crimp disposed in said end portion and extending transversely thereof; and a substantially straight slender member adapted to be secured to the hat wire and to extend through said coil, said slender member having an integral hook adjacent one end, said hook Ibeing engageable with and disengageable from said crimp when the member is disposed in the coil, thereby to clasp together or unclasp the said members.

2. A connector means for joining together the ends of a hat Wire, comprising an annular member constituting a substantially helical, elongate wire coil having a substantially straight elongate projecting end portion for attachment to the hat Wire, and having a crimp disposed in said end portion and extending transversely thereof; and a substantially straight slender wire member adapted to be secured to the hat wire and to extend through said coil, said slender member having an integral hook adjacent one end, said hook being engageable with and disengagea'ble from said crimp when the member is disposed.

To open the hat to its original position, it is only g 3 through said coil, said slender member having an integral hook and a bend next to the hook, both said hook and bend being disposed adjacent one end `of the member and being selectively engageable with and disengageable from said crimp when the member is disposed'in the coil, thereby to clasp together or unclasp the said members. v

4. A Connector means for joining together the ends of a hat wire, comprising an annular member constituting a coil having a substantially straight, elongate projecting7 end portion for `attachment to the hat wire, and having a crimp disposed in said end portion and extending transversely thereof; a substantially straight slender mem-ber adapted to be secured to the hat wire and to extend through said coil, said slender member having an integral hook adjacent one end, said hook being engageable with `and disengageable from said crimp when the member is disposed in the coil thereby to clasp together or unclasp the said members; and means connected to said coil, engageable with fastening means for securing the coil to a support.

5. The invention as defined in claim l in which there is a second coil connected to the first-mentioned coil and through which said slender member is also adapted to extend.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,328 White Sept. 25, 1866 280,982 Wheeler et al. July 10, 1883 333,688 Somers Ian. 5, 1886 371,970 Price Oct. 25, 1887 1,040,790 Sherman Oct. 8, 1912 1,403,298 Deuscher Jan, 10, 1922 2,678,448 Roserlzweig May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 433,835 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1935 121,810 Australia July 18, 1946 1,031,469

France Mar. 18, 1953 

